Padres : Garvey Wins the Battle Against Sutton, but They Insist There Is War No More

PALM SPRINGS —  When Steve Garvey faces Don Sutton, heads (uh, helmets) usually roll.

Two springs ago, when Sutton was pitching for Milwaukee, he hit Garvey in the head, and Garvey retaliated in his next at-bat by slashing a line drive at Sutton.

So why all the commotion? Back in the 1970s, when they both were Dodgers, Sutton had said some things to a reporter about Garvey’s personal life. Garvey went and asked Sutton if he really said those things, and Sutton confirmed.

They ended up wrestling on the floor.

Now that they’re in different leagues, they aren’t together very often, so these spring training matchups become meaningful.

Well, Garvey had the edge in Sunday’s matchup, as he went 3 for 3 against the Angels’ Sutton, including a home run, his first of the spring.

The Padres won, 9-4.

“Oh, it feels just the same as it would against any other pitcher,” Garvey said, with the hint of a grin. “Time and history have long since dried the ink on past stories about Don and I. He’s going for 300 (wins), and I applaud him for that. And I’ll continue on doing the best I can.”

In the first inning of Sunday’s game, Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn had lined a ball straight back at Sutton (the speed gun said it came back at 95 m.p.h.), and Sutton somehow caught it. When Garvey stepped up to start the second inning, Sutton screamed to him: “Don’t hit it through the middle like Gwynn.”

But Garvey did, though the ball went over Sutton’s head for a single. Garvey’s home run, in the fourth, was a slider that he hit to left field.

“Before today, I was 4 for 5 off him,” Garvey said. “And three of them were up the middle. . . . But, like I said, the time we face each other now is not essentially for the record, so it’s just to see who can have the best day. It’s for old time’s sake. Really, there’s no animosity. Today was just my day.

“Last year, we sat down and talked and probably both of us came to a better understanding of what happened over the years. That’s why I say now what’s happened in the past is essentially history.

“Just because it’s Don, there’s more to the story. . . . It’s just kind of an annual personal challenge. It does pick up the energy level of spring training games.”

Said Sutton, when asked if facing Garvey was significant: “Ah, when you’ve played a long time, it’s all the same thing, whether you’re playing against Willie Mays or Willie Horton. It’s all the same.”

Padre bats rolled on Sunday. The team compiled 17 hits, and catcher Terry Kennedy led the way with four (including his second spring home run). Tony Gwynn extended his hitting streak to 16 games, and rookie John Kruk also hit a home run (and later had another base hit), lifting his spring batting average to .500 (19 for 38).

“That was fun to watch,” Manager Steve Boros said.

Don Fehr of the Major League Players Assn. was in town to speak with the Angels, and he plans a talk with the Padres today. Essentially, Fehr will let the Padres know what’s on the association agenda, and the main issue is the upcoming arbitration hearing regarding drug clauses in players’ contracts.

Add Fehr: Asked if he expects Commissioner Peter Ueberroth to suspend pitcher LaMarr Hoyt for his involvement with alcohol, Fehr said: “I think it’d be a mistake, and I don’t think it would stand up. Besides, there’s no reason to think it’ll happen.”

Unlike the players in the Pittsburgh drug trial who were handed suspensions, Hoyt was not found to be using cocaine.